Manlius  A developer’s plans for the vacant lot at the intersection of Fayette Street and Highbridge Road will now be brought before the village of Manlius Planning Board after a presentation given at the village board of trustee’s regular meeting Tuesday, March 27.

An artist's rendering of Manlius Square.

James J. Bonsignore, an attorney for the developer, Morgan Acquisitions LLC, presented the board with a conceptual plan and design for “Manlius Square,” along with an application for a zone change application.

The application would rezone the 4.41-acre property located next to the former Express Sales building from its current combination of designations as both commercial and residential to one singular Planned Unit Development District.

According to a letter from Bonsignore’s firm, Fix Spindelman Brovitz & Goldman, “The intent of the PUD is to create a transitional, multi-use district separating the residential properties to the west from the commercial downtown area to the east. Uses for the district will include multifamily residential … and mixed-use commercial consisting of all uses permitted within the commercial district plus multi-use commercial allowing for the incorporation of multifamily residential/commercial mixed use buildings.”

Bonsignore said the proposed plan includes a drive-thru pharmacy.

“The Kinney Drug store would be 11,500 square feet,” Bonsignore said, with a proposed retail building that would feature “multi-family residences on the second floor.”

Also included in the proposal are a second, two-story 7,900-square-foot building next to the store with “specialty retail” on the lower floor and residential apartments on the second floor and two duplexes to the back of the lot, along Eureka Drive.

Bonsignore said the village’s Comprehensive Plan was kept in mind by the developer, citing the fact that parking was pushed to the back, with the building up front buffered from the street by vegetation and sidewalks.

“The proposed district provides a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly community center … [which] meets the goals of the Comprehensive Plan by providing essential services and revitalizing the downtown area,” he said.